The Teams: Tarleton Texans (1-1, 0-0 WAC) vs. Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds (1-1, 0-1 LSC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, LaDarrin McLane)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Matt Miller, Keltin Wiens)
 
TEXAN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
It's Family Weekend in Stephenville, and as of late, that spells a win for the Texans. Tarleton has won six straight Family Weekend games, going 6-0 since head coach Todd Whitten returned to the sidelines. Now they'll match up with old Lone Star Conference companion Eastern New Mexico to keep the winning streak going.
 
The game, set for 6 p.m. CT, will be broadcast on ESPN+, with John Liddle and LaDarrin McLane on the call. The game can be heard on Tarleton Sports Network at 90.5 FM in Stephenville and surrounding areas, with Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters, Matt Miller and Keltin Wiens leading the broadcast.
 
GAME DAY FESTIVITIES
It's the first Saturday home game of the year, the Family Weekend game, presented by Clear Path Home Care.
 
Texan Alley opens at 8 a.m. for tailgaters, and all parking lots open at 2 p.m. The Pointe-du-Hoc rally will be at 2:40 p.m. at Rudder Way Statue, not long before stadium gates open at 4 p.m.
 
For the second time at a home regular season Tarleton Athletics event, alcohol will be sold inside the stadium. From 4:30-5:30 p.m., "Happy Hour" will commence, with all beer for sale inside the stadium at half-price, including Texas Rider – Revolver Beer. Also starting at 4:30 will be the Tarleton Gameday Show, taking place live from Texan Alley. The pregame show will feature giveaways, guests and a preview of the matchup with Eastern New Mexico.
 
There will be an exclusive student entrance for this game that opens at 5 p.m. at the northeast gate of the stadium. For maps of the area and complete tailgating policies, visit TarletonSports.com/TexanAlley.
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the 29th matchup between Tarleton and Eastern New Mexico. The two teams played every year between 2005-19 and 1994-2001, when both were members of the Lone Star Conference.
• Although Eastern New Mexico holds a 15-13 advantage in the all-time series, Tarleton has won 13 of the last 16 matchups, dating back to 2001. Over that span, Tarleton has a +242 point differential.
• In the 25 years both teams were in the LSC together, Tarleton finished ahead of Eastern New Mexico in the conference standings 15 times, and tied in conference record three times.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Texans have won three straight home games, and six of their last seven. If they win Saturday, it will mark their longest home winning streak since 2018-19 (13 straight). Head coach Todd Whitten owns a 54-18 (.750) record at home.
• Saturday marks Family Weekend at Tarleton, a celebration of all students and student-athletes' families while promoting a fun family-atmosphere game. On the annual special weekend, the Texans are riding an active six-game winning streak. Last year in front of 12,078 people at the specific game, Tarleton beat Fort Lewis 54-7.
• Since becoming an NCAA Division I program, Tarleton is 6-1 against Division II teams.
• Adrian Guzman was named the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week this past week after he made a career-long 47-yard field goal at TCU. It's Tarleton's first weekly award of the year, and the second of Guzman's career.
• This is Tarleton's last home game for a five-week stretch. The Texans have three road games and their bye week mixed in between hosting Eastern New Mexico and Southwest Baptist for homecoming on Oct. 22.
• Among all WAC teams, Tarleton has the fewest amount of penalties (seven) and penalty yards (55). Only five FCS teams have been penalized fewer times, and only nine FCS teams have been penalized fewer yards.

 
FAMILY WEEKEND
The Texans are hosting their annual Family Weekend game on Saturday, a weekend they've had major success as of late on the field. Since 2016, the year head coach Todd Whitten returned to the Tarleton sidelines, the Texans have won on Family Weekend every year, riding an active six-game winning streak. In his first year back, Tarleton rolled UTPB 48-20, with QB Zed Woerner throwing four touchdowns, and Del-Michael High catching two. In 2017, a Tarleton 30-20 win over West Texas A&M, Xavier Turner rushed for three touchdowns and 135 yards on 17 carries. In 2018, another big win over UTPB, 35-13, Ben Holmes threw three touchdowns, with Zimari Manning receiving two, and Daniel McCants rushing for two touchdowns and 162 yards. In 2019, Tarleton beat West Texas A&M 58-28, as Holmes yet again threw for three scores. In 2020, a Tarleton 39-14 win over Mississippi College, the Texan defense scored two touchdowns, plus a two-point return, with Zechariah Hopkins and Benjie Franklin each returning a fumble back for a TD, plus Franklin returning a blocked PAT 98 yards for two points. Last year, Tarleton rolled Fort Lewis 54-7, rushing for five touchdowns total as a team. Jayy McDonald and Khalil Banks each had a pair.
 
SILVER LININGS
There are usually several positive takeaways despite a loss, no different than what happened on Saturday against TCU. Head coach Todd Whitten said the game was still a very positive thing, bringing major exposure to the program and giving his roster some real Power Five experience. Plus, several players had solid games individually, such as:
 
Darius Cooper – Cooper set career-highs across the board with his six catches for 117 yards and a touchdown night. Not only did he solidify his spot as one of the top receivers on the team, he showcased his ability to make tough catches with his incredible toe-tapper snag of a TD in the second quarter.
 
Patrick Jones – Despite receiving some of the wrath by TCU fans, Jones never dipped in energy, bringing some big hits and a relentless effort to the tune of eight total tackles and a sack. It marked his first sack at Tarleton in just his second game.
 
Braelon Bridges – It was great to see Bridges out there, playing in his second game in two seasons as he battles back from a leg injury. Bridges debuted his speed and evasiveness to lead the team in rushing at 32 yards on nine carries (3.6 yards per carry).
 
Deangelo Rosemond – Rosemond started Tarleton's second half on a high note, scoring from a yard out for his first touchdown on the season, his first overall since the last time Tarleton played an FBS program, Feb. 21, 2021, against New Mexico State.
 
The duo of D.J. Harris and Qua'Shawn Washington – Both inside linebackers led the team in tackling once again, this time combining for 21 tackles. The two lead the conference in tackles, with Harris at 24 total tackles, and Washington at 22.
 
Adrian Guzman – Guzman has yet to miss a field goal this season and made another career-long attempt in his second straight game, this time making one from 47 yards out.
 
QB LOVE FOR GREYHOUNDS
Tarleton has enjoyed tremendous team success against its old LSC companion. The Texans have won seven of their last nine meetings against the Greyhounds, and 13 of their last 16, dating back to 2001.
 
Tarleton quarterbacks especially have enjoyed playing Eastern New Mexico. In each of Tarleton's last five wins against the Greyhounds, the Texans' starting quarterback has thrown for at least three touchdowns. In 2014, Collin Strahan had the best performance of the bunch with five touchdown passes, to go along with 386 passing yards, in Tarleton's 59-42 win. In fact, since 2012, six of Tarleton's last seven starting QB's have thrown 3+ TDs:

• 2019 -- Ben Holmes : 3 TD, 259 yards
• 2018 -- Ben Holmes: 3 TD, 277 yards
• 2017 -- Zed Woerner: 1 TD, 397 yards
• 2016 -- Zed Woerner: 3 TD, 343 yards
• 2015 -- Zed Woerner: 4 TD, 382 yards
• 2014 -- Collin Strahan: 5 TD, 386 yards
• 2013 -- Jake Fenske: 3 TD, 313 yards

 
NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED
This past week, Adrian Guzman brought home Tarleton's first WAC weekly honor of the season, named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week following his Week 2 efforts at TCU. Guzman made his lone field goal attempt, a career-long 47-yarder, and both of his extra points in Fort Worth. This is Guzman's second career WAC weekly award, his other coming last year in mid-October after his performance against Dixie State. His 47-yard successful try makes back-to-back weeks for Guzman setting new career-longs in field goals. He made a 46-yarder in Week 1 vs. Mississippi Valley State. The Texan sophomore owns the two longest field goal makes in the WAC this season. Guzman has the most field goal makes in the WAC this year. Only 10 players in the FCS have a longer FGM than Guzman in 2022.
 
Last year, Tarleton individuals continuously flooded the WAC weekly awards list, recognized for their great performances. Seven total players earned weekly honors; D.J. Harris, Greg Eggleston Jr., J.F. Thomas, Adrian Guzman, Devin Hafford, Devin Sterling and Sean Walton. Looking at the last four years overall, Tarleton has had two conference defensive players of the year, a conference offensive player of the year, two conference running backs of the year, two conference defensive backs of the year, a conference wide receiver of the year, a conference offensive lineman of the year, and a conference defensive lineman of the year. They've had 16 All-Americans in that span, and 40 All-Conference players in just three seasons (no conference in 2020) – 21 on offense, 19 on defense.
 
LEADING THE WAC
Several Texans are atop WAC leaderboards this season...
Beau Allen:
  - 2nd in passing yards per game (255)
  - 2nd in total passing yards (510)
  - 2nd in passing efficiency (136.57)
  - 2nd in pass yards per attempt (8.1)
  - T-3rd in total pass touchdowns (4)
Darius Cooper:
  - 3rd in receiving yards per game (90.5)
  - 3rd in total receiving yards (181)
  - 4th in receptions per game (5)
  - 4th in total receptions (10)
  - 5th in yards per catch (18.1)
Gabe Douglas:
  - 2nd in yards per catch (25.2)
  - 6th in receiving yards per game (63)
  - 6th in total receiving yards (126)
Adrian Guzman:
  - 1st in field goal makes (4)
  - T-1st in field goal percentage (100.0)
D.J. Harris:
  - 1st in total tackles (24)
Jaylen Jackson:
  - T-1st in total forced fumbles (1)
Patrick Jones:
  - T-2nd in total sacks (1)
  - T-3rd in total tackles for loss (3)
  - T-7th in total tackles (13)
Deangelo Rosemond:
  - 1st in kick return average (134 total yards)
  - 1st in yards per rush (5.91)
  - 2nd in all-purpose yards per game (132)
  - T-2nd in total rushing touchdowns (1)
  - 3rd in rushing yards per game (65)
  - 3rd in total rush yards (130)
Blake Smith:
  - T-1st in total fumble recoveries (1)
Jaden Smith:
  - T-1st in total receiving touchdowns (3)
  - 2nd in receptions per game (7.5)
  - 2nd in total receptions (15)
  - 2nd in receiving yards per game (93.5)
  - 2nd in total receiving yards (187)
Kyle Taylor:
  - T-2nd in total sacks (1)
Qua'Shawn Washington:
  - 2nd in total tackles (22)
  - T-5th in total tackles for loss (2.5)
 
#BEAUKNOWS
Beau Allen had quite the debut for Tarleton in Week 1, passing for 300 yards and three touchdowns on a 23-of-38 (.605) clip, with no turnovers, in a 29-13 win. Virtually all of Allen's stats were career-highs for the redshirt freshman. His 300 yards passing were the most in a Tarleton season-opener since Ben Holmes had 375 at Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 7, 2019, while his three touchdown passes were the most in a Tarleton season-opener in at least the past 10 years. As for Texans making their first career start overall at QB, Allen is the first one to throw for 300 yards since Zed Woerner had 302 against Angelo State on Nov. 1, 2014. Holmes and Woerner are two of the top quarterbacks in program history.
 
Affectionally given the social media hashtag of #BeauKnows by his Kentucky Wildcat family, Beau Allen originally joined his hometown college as a four-star prospect by both ESPN and Rivals. At Lexington Catholic High School, he ranked as high as the No. 3 QB in Kentucky, and a top-15 QB across the nation overall. He won the Paul Hornung Award his senior year, given to the top high school player in Kentucky, starting all four years at the prep level, compiling 11,439 passing yards and 127 touchdowns, top-five marks in the state all-time. At Kentucky, he primarily spent his time in the No. 2 QB role, playing in five total games, completing 11-of-19 (.579) passes for 132 yards, plus a rushing touchdown. Allen chose Kentucky over offers from Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Maryland, Washington State, West Virginia, Marshall and Duke, among others. He said he picked Tarleton as his transfer school mostly because of the coaching staff, with ties to head coach Todd Whitten and pass game coordinator/QB coach Adam Austin, who was part of Eastern Kentucky's staff tasked to recruit Allen to Richmond.
 
BEST IN TEXAS
Since the start of the 2018 season, there has not been a better scholarship football program in the entire state of Texas than Tarleton State University. The Texans enter Saturday's game with a .761 winning percentage since the start of 2018, the highest mark across all of the NCAA Division I and II programs in the state.  The Texans have 35 wins since the start of 2018, tied for the most wins in the state by an NCAA Division I or II program. Tarleton is one of three Texas D1 or D2 schools with all four winning seasons since 2018, along with Texas A&M and Sam Houston. The Texans have the tied-fewest amount of losses among Texas D1/D2 schools since 2018 at 11 (Texas A&M-Commerce).  The list of the top scholarship programs in Texas over that span are as follows:
 

#	School	Conf.	Win Pct.
1.	Tarleton	WAC	.761
2.	Texas A&M-Commerce	LSC	.725
3.	Sam Houston	WAC	.723
4.	Texas A&M	SEC	.700
5.	Angelo State	LSC	.674
6.	SMU	AAC	.653
7.	Baylor	Big 12	.635
8.	West Texas A&M	LSC	.634
9.	Midwestern State	LSC	.611
10.	Texas	Big 12	.608

 

#	School	Conf.	Wins
1.	Tarleton	WAC	35
	Texas A&M	SEC	35
3.	Sam Houston	WAC	34
4.	Baylor	Big 12	33
5.	SMU	AAC	32
6.	Texas	Big 12	31
7.	Texas A&M-Commerce	LSC	29
	Angelo State	LSC	29
9.	UTSA	C-USA	27
10.	Incarnate Word	SLC	26
	West Texas A&M	LSC	26

 
SPORTSCENTER SMITH
As strong of a Tarleton debut Beau Allen had in Week 1, Jaden Smith may have topped him. Smith caught three touchdowns, hauling in 11 receptions for 95 yards in Tarleton's win last week. His first TD grab was an OBJ-like skying one-hander, No. 4 on SportsCenter's Top-10 Plays countdown. He set career-highs in all three categories.
Smith transferred to Tarleton from Montana State, where he played the last two seasons. In just one game in Stephenville, he almost surpassed all of his numbers across 16 games for the Bobcats; 13 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown.
 
His three touchdowns scored are:

• The tied most TD receptions in a game in NCAA Division I this season (FBS and FCS).
• The tied most TDs scored in a game in the WAC this season.
• The most touchdowns scored in a game by a Texan since Sept. 18, 2021 (Tariq Bitson vs. Southern Utah).
• The most touchdown receptions in a Tarleton season opener in at least the past 10 years.

His 11 receptions are:

• The tied most receptions in a game in the WAC this season (Utah Tech's Joey Hobert).
• The most receptions by a Texan in a game since March 13, 2021 (Tariq Bitson vs. Dixie State).
• The most receptions in a Tarleton season opener since 2020 (Dray Roberson vs. McNeese State).

 
TURNAROUND TODD
Tarleton head coach Todd Whitten is in his 13th season at the helm of the Texans. He's already the winningest head coach in program history, with opportunities this season to keep building on his historic career. Since joining the purple and white, Whitten has taken his Texan teams to a 91-46 (.664) record. In its senior college history, Tarleton is exactly .500 all-time at 316-316-3. So, Whitten has boosted the Texans from a .455 winning percentage to .500, a hard feat to manage since the senior college sample size is 600+ games deep.
 
PRESEASON WATCH
Tarleton Football was voted to finish third in the conference by the other WAC head coaches, with five Texans named Preseason All-WAC. Offensive linemen Kendall Dearth and Blake Haynes are on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Offense. Defensive lineman Javier Duran, linebacker D.J. Harris and defensive back Donovan Banks are on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Defense.
 
Dearth and Haynes were two of the six total offensive linemen on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Offense. Haynes was Second Team All-WAC last year. Haynes and Dearth started all 11 games last year, part of an offensive line that allowed the tied-12th fewest total sacks in the FCS at 13, the tied-14th fewest sacks per game at 1.18.
 
Duran, one of five defensive linemen chosen to the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Defense, was Second Team All-WAC last year. He started all 11 games in his first year at Tarleton, recording 32 total tackles (17 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries.
 
Harris, one of four linebackers named 2022 Preseason All-WAC Defense, led the Texans in total tackles at 66 (35 solo). He finished with seven tackles for a loss, tied-second most on the team, earning a safety, forced fumble, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries in nine games. Across the conference, he averaged the fourth most tackles per game at 7.3 per, owning the sixth most total tackles.
 
Banks was one of five defensive backs on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Defense. Last year he had the tied-third most total tackles on the team with 50 (32 solo).
 
CHANGE IN SCHEME
With new personnel comes fresh ideas and different habits. The Texans have a brand-new defensive coordinator, Tyrone Nix, who has incorporated a 3-4 defensive formation, different from Tarleton's 4-3 defense last year.
 
Nix has been a Division I coach for over 25 years, serving as the defensive coordinator for five previous D1 programs, including Ole Miss and South Carolina. He has spent 17 years as a defensive coordinator at the D1 level, holding that title at UTSA (2020), Middle Tennessee (2012-16), Ole Miss (2008-11), South Carolina (2005-07) and Southern Miss (2001-04). His other titles and stops include outside linebackers coach at Ole Miss (2019), safeties coach at Virginia Tech (2018), defensive analyst at Texas A&M (2017), and numerous defensive position titles among his full tenure at Southern Miss from 1995-2004. In all, Nix has coached at seven different Division I programs, spending 15 years in Conference USA, nine years in the Southeastern Conference, one year in the Atlantic Coast Conference and one year in the Sun Belt Conference. He's a former Broyles Award finalist, given to the nation's top assistant coach. In the SEC, Nix elevated as high as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at both Ole Miss, under head coach Houston Nutt, and at South Carolina, under head coach Steve Spurrier.
 
TRANSFER TAKEOVER
In the new era of college football, the transfer portal has become popular, and recruiting has changed. It was prevalent for Tarleton this offseason. The Texans added 28 transfers to its roster entering 2022, while 14 players joined the team straight out of high school.
 
Tarleton's announced National Signing Day Class consisted of all transfers, including defensive lineman Blaine Hoover and running back Mookie Douglas. Hoover transferred from Incarnate Word where he played the last two years, appearing in 16 games, recording 47 total tackles, 3.0 sacks and 4.5 TFL. He was Third Team Southland All-Conference in 2020 and a 2021 Southland All-Conference honorable mention. Douglas joins the Texans from East Central where he played the last four years, rushing for 2,849 career yards and 33 TDs. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2017 and 2019, earning several conference awards such as Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference. He even faced Tarleton on April 1, 2021, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
 
NATIONAL LEADER
Across the country, only 14 NCAA Division I teams (eight FBS, six FCS) have a better winning percentage than Tarleton since 2018 (Cincinnati, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Louisiana, Appalachian State, Kennesaw State, North Dakota State, James Madison, Princeton, Dartmouth). So among some of the other elite programs, Tarleton has a higher W% than the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Oregon, Iowa, USC, LSU, etc.
 

#	School	Conf.	Win Pct.
1.	North Dakota State	MVFC	.931
2.	Alabama	SEC	.914
3.	Ohio State	Big 10	.902
4.	Dartmouth	Ivy	.900
	Princeton	Ivy	.900
6.	Clemson	ACC	.895
7.	Georgia	SEC	.855
8.	Oklahoma	Big 12	.852
9.	Cincinnati	AAC	.849
10.	Notre Dame	Ind.	.830
	James Madison	SBC	.830
12.	Appalachian State	SBC	.800
13.	Kennesaw State	ASUN	.787
14.	Louisiana	SBC	.782
15.	Tarleton	WAC	.761

 
6: Only six D1 teams (five FBS, one FCS) averaged more points than Tarleton (38.0 PPG) from 2018-21 (Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson, UCF, Eastern Washington).
 
10: 10 D1 teams (five FBS, five FCS) allowed fewer points than TAR (18.3) from 2018-21 (Georgia, Clemson, Cincinnati, Iowa, San Diego State, North Dakota State, Dartmouth, James Madison, Princeton, Kennesaw State).
 
5: Not considering reclassification rules on leaderboards, Tarleton was one of five D1 teams in both top-15s of scoring and defense from 2018-21 - (Clemson, James Madison, Princeton, Kennesaw State).
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will make their first trip to Florence, Alabama, since 2012, set to take on the North Alabama Lions on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. CT. It will be the Lions' homecoming game, so Tarleton will try to play spoiler. It also marks the first of three straight road games for the Texans, although they'll have their bye week mixed in.